Ian Tomlinson: lawyers challenge CPS over decision not to prosecute

originally published by:
The Guardian
22nd July 2010

The Crown Prosecution Service’s decision that no charges will be brought in relation to the death of Ian Tomlinson has been challenged by lawyers, who argue it shows a disparity in how the criminal justice system treats police officers and members of the public.

There are concerns that the CPS’s decision that there is “no realistic prospect” of a conviction against the officer who was filmed during last year’s G20 protests striking the newspaper seller, who later died, reflects a reluctance to charge police officers and demonstrates the impunity of the police.

Today’s findings have been compared with the case of Blair Peach, an anti-facist protester whose death was one of the most controversial events in modern policing history.

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Safer in Custody stats published

original source: IAP
22nd July 2010

The Ministry of Justice today published its Safer in Custody Statistics Bulletin for 2009 which provides an analysis on deaths, self harm and violence in prison. The statistics are an important source of information for those interested in understanding and improving safety in prison and other custodial settings.

The publication analyses deaths, self-harm and violence in prison custody, looking at trends across age, gender and time in prison custody.

The bulletin is released by the Ministry of Justice and produced in accordance with arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

You can access the statistics by visting:
www.justice.gov.uk/safer-custody

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Her long struggle ends in death

originally published by: Boston.com
24th July 2010

The woman who was shot and killed by police after she allegedly slashed three officers in her home yesterday morning had a history of mental illness, yet attempts to provide her treatment had failed, right up until the hours before the shooting, according to police, court records, and interviews with friends and neighbors.

Carol Lynn Kingsley, a 33-year-old mother who lost custody of her only child nearly four years ago, had been brought by emergency responders to Cambridge Hospital for a mental health evaluation at 3 a.m. yesterday, less than four hours before the shooting. A neighbor had called police complaining that she was fighting with her boyfriend.

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